Page 50 of Wishing for Love

“These are for you,” she said quietly.

“What?” he asked. “From who?”

“One from me and three from Elsie.”

He frowned. “I don’t remember seeing receipts for something for me,” he said.

Which told her he looked at everything she purchased. She wasn’t offended.

“Now that would defeat the purpose of a gift for you, wouldn’t it?” she said, grinning.

“I guess,” he said. “But you shouldn’t have paid for it either. I’ll reimburse you.”

“No,” she said firmly. “Don’t insult me. You give me so much. It’s not a big deal. She wanted to get you these things and I let her. She told me she always picked your gifts out and I think she needed that familiarity this year.”

“Yes, she did pick out my things,” he said softly. “Sometimes they were funny and other times thoughtful.”

“You might get a mixture this year,” she said. At least he’d be prepared. “Well, do you think Santa is ready for his snack and drink?”

“Definitely,” he said, reaching for a cookie and handing it over. “Do you want the rest of the wine?”

“If you want a whiskey with me,” she said. “I don’t want you to think I’m a lush. I pretty much put this bottle away.”

“No pretty much about it,” he said, laughing. “You did. But it was a small bottle.”

“Sure, make me feel better about it. And it was stretched out over five hours for the most part.”

She picked up the wine and took a sip, then a bite of the cookie. Her third one tonight. Elsie wanted them all to have two cookies and that was it so they didn’t exceed their calories.

It was comical, but they all did it. Each had one Elsie decorated and one she had.

“And now we are going to get fat,” he said. “Three cookies. I’m betting Maryn is laughing her ass off at me.”

Crystal turned after she was done chewing and saw the tears in his eyes. She went with her gut and put her arms around him and held him tight. “I’m so sorry, Phoenix. I know this is as hard on you as it is on her.”

“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat. “It was a good thought and memory. I’m okay.”

She leaned back and noticed that his eyes were clear. Maybe she embarrassed him and didn’t want to do that either.

She ran her hand down the side of his face and he caught it with his fingers, held it and leaned in to kiss her.

“Do we want to try to freeze time?” she asked.

“What does that mean?”

“That the next few hours are for us. Don’t think. Nothing. We are two people alone that need each other. It can be about us and only us.”

Crystal hadn’t meant to say she was alone and she could see the sympathy in his eyes. It wasn’t the same as what he was going through, but in some ways it was.

“I’m not sure I’ve got much in me to fight this. If it’s a mistake I’m going to kick myself over it.”

“Not a mistake,” she said. “I won’t let it be for either of us. I promise.”

He took the glass out of her hand and walked to the kitchen and dumped it. She followed behind him, the crumbs of their cookies on the plate. “Crap, I need to put the glass back.”

“Just tell Elsie Santa was kind enough to leave it in the sink on his way out.”

He laughed. “You’re pretty fast on your feet.”

---